Waste No Time In Beefing Up Trade And Investment Ties, Anwar Tells Malaysian And Ethiopian Businesses

From M. Saraswathi

ADDIS ABABA (Ethiopia), Nov 19 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on businesses in both Malaysia and Ethiopia to not waste time anymore but to beef up bilateral trade and investment ties in view of the disruptions and challenges in the international arena.

“The rapid, complex shifts brought about by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and climate-related challenges have shown us, more clearly than ever, how important reliable partners are and the need to speed up business linkages.

“Time has been wasted. Now is the time for nations to stand together to uphold stability, encourage open markets, and pursue inclusive, sustainable growth,” he said at the Ethiopia-Malaysia High Level Business Forum here, attended by 200 business representatives.

Also present at the forum were Ethiopian President Taye Atske-Selassie Amde, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Zaliha Mustafa.

Anwar’s first-ever visit to Ethiopia for three days, which began yesterday, is aimed at boosting bilateral business ties and exploring investment partnerships.

“So, this synergy with the private sector, the business community, cannot be underestimated. We have wasted time for years, and it's up to you to initiate a better understanding. We have brought a very big team here to Addis Ababa, and you are welcome to visit Malaysia, but more importantly, start engaging now in all these fields,” he added.

He said Malaysia and Ethiopia share a common value, and that is the need for economic resilience. “We cannot just wait for these negotiations with America on tariffs or our dependence on traditional routes with trading nations. We have to open up, and one of the reasons we are here is for the future. When people talk about unilateral engagement, we are for multilateralism.”

The prime minister said that entails penetrating new markets and “we have been quite successful in Latin America, in Brazil, with our good friend (President) Lula da Silva.”

The business representatives at the forum comprise 54 Ethiopian companies, including 22 from the manufacturing sector, 29 from the services sector, and three government agencies.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said Malaysia’s economic engagement with Africa has grown steadily over the years, from telecommunications infrastructure to aviation services, education, agriculture, and energy.

“Ethiopia’s reforms, its logistics aspirations, and young, dynamic workforce provide a strong foundation for deeper cooperation,” he noted. “We see real potential in high-growth sectors such as digital technology, renewable energy, agro-industry, infrastructure development, and Islamic finance.”

He revealed that several Malaysian companies have already expressed interest in exploring Ethiopia as a strategic hub for East Africa, a reflection of confidence in Ethiopia’s growth trajectory.

“On that score, Malaysia welcomes Ethiopian companies, investors, and innovators to partner with Malaysia and explore opportunities not only in Malaysia, but also in our vibrant ASEAN bloc and across the wider, dynamic Asia-Pacific region. Let us be the bridge connecting both the potential and dynamism of our respective regions,” said Anwar.

As a trading country, Malaysia is deeply rooted in the rules-based multilateral system, as well as in high-standard trade frameworks like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). “We actively seek to expand such frameworks and networks as they offer expanded market access and strong trading rules and opportunities that can be unlocked through Malaysia-Ethiopia partnerships,” the prime minister said.

Anwar highlighted that Malaysia’s transformation agenda - driven by the MADANI Economy and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 - places sustainability at the centre of the national development.

“We are advancing renewable energy, energy transition industries, electric mobility, and circular economy initiatives. These are precisely the forward-looking areas where meaningful and impactful collaboration can flourish between our two nations, through joint ventures, technology exchanges, and co-investments in climate-smart agriculture, clean energy, and green industrialisation,” he said.

-- BERNAMA